Desert Hiking Sun Shirts

[ctebeau]

Her Guys, Redlocks here.
I'm planning a 2018 PCT thru and am currently working on putting together a gear list. On this thru I'm really working on going ultra light (Cuben tarp/Pack, down quilt, exc.) and am struggling with deciding on a sun shirt. I generally don't like wearing long sleeves, but being a fair skinned ginger I will need it for the desert. I really just want a lightweight breathable shirt. Any reconditions or links to good reviews would be much appreciated!
Thanks!

[swisscross]

I recently booked a family trip to the Grand Canyon(north rim), Bryce (if we don't get permits for the Vermillion cliffs) and Zion for our summer vacation.
Being fair skinned also I too have been looking around for sun shirts.
Looking forward to seeing some responses.
The Patagonia Sun Stretch button down shirt has great reviews, Columbia Silver Ridge shirts are more reasonably priced with mixed reviews.

[Hosh]

Wear these, https://www.railriders.com/ and you'll be west coast hip

[ctebeau]

Iim really looking for something thats as minimal as it gets. I don't see myself needing pockets of many buttons. Just a simple sun shirt that packs sown small and is still breathable

[Sandy of PA]

Reflective umbrella instead of a shirt?

[Hosh]

Iim really looking for something thats as minimal as it gets. I don't see myself needing pockets of many buttons. Just a simple sun shirt that packs sown small and is still breathable

UA makes some nice synthetics that are rated high in sun protection, 1/4 zip, mock turtle,. I like the Cool-Max for MB and hiking. They do fray on the shoulders.

[Feral Bill]

An old white dress shirt would work. See Goodwill etc.

[MuddyWaters]

You want baggy, loose, ventillated, breatheable
Or you should. Forget light weight

[CarlZ993]

The Railriders Adventure Top shirt is about a minimalist as you can get. I have one & wore it for years. 7 oz for an XL. I later decided I like a slightly heavier shirt w/ more pockets for convenience (Mountain Hardware. Railriders (and others) make a glorified long-sleeve sun T-shirt w/ no pocket. Find a light color (white or beige) & you are set. Good luck.

[gwschenk]

An old white dress shirt would work. See Goodwill etc.

A friend got a bunch of silk shirts for a quarter a piece. Silk is great material for the mountains. Cotton would work in the actual desert, but the PCT doesn't go through the desert.

[AfterParty]

Colombia pfg

[Miner]

For the PCT (and all subsequent hikes in the SouthWest), I used one of Railriders' shirts that has mesh down the length of the arm and sides of the Torso. I also recommend theirEco-Mesh pants (has mesh down the length of the leg that can be zipped up when it gets cool or you go into town) for desert hiking. I found them cool enough I wore them all they way to Washington.

[ctebeau]

Thanks for the advice guys. I haven't looked too extensively into the Railriders before. They're looking pretty sweet. I'll probably end up with the Adventure top; Looks perfect!

[Miner]

Sign up for Railriders email list. They send out 10-15% discounts on a regular basis. They are just finishing their end year clearance. They will be stocking up sometime again next month on items out of stock.

[MuddyWaters]

Cotton would work in the actual desert, but the PCT doesn't go through the desert.

Not exactly correct........

[handlebar]

I wound up switching away from rail riders shirt with the mesh down the arms and vent in back because it was very hot. Switched to a knit long sleeve from Mountain Hardware that breathed very well (but being synthetic, had serious hiker funk issues). Now I use a reflective umbrella with smartwool or icebreaker 150 wt T shirt and with a light weight long sleeved 150 wt wool shirt for sleeping or, if sun is an issue, wearing---only wore once or twice. Consider though that I'm not seriously fair-skinned, usually have a pretty good "farmer tan" on my arms, and have already reached advanced middle age while skin cancer takes years to develop. Now for the top of my head, that's another matter. In the summer, and winter on the FL trail, I always have my Tilley Ventilator Hat on top.

[wannahike]

An old white dress shirt would work. See Goodwill etc.

If you go this route get some RIT Sun guard and wash your shirts first.

[MuddyWaters]

ex officio reef runner lite here

tried it vs. long sleeve UL tighter fitting first
no comparison
none at all
seriously
mucho coolero
when breeze blows, its like the AC is on

It weights about 7 oz
the shirt I compared it to weighed 3.2, and was much hotter.

[AllDownhillFromHere]

An old white dress shirt would work. See Goodwill etc.

Wouldn't the cotton get all sweaty?

[Hosh]

Wouldn't the cotton get all sweaty?

It's fine for an arid, low humidity, high temperature environment like a desert. The axiom "cotton kills" is still applicable to most other environments